Can’t tear yourself away from work for a vacation this summer? Consider bringing your business with you, says Jeff Zbar, who has spent the past six summers traveling the U.S. with his family, working on the road.

“A lot of people think they can’t take a vacation,” says Mr. Zbar, a free-lance writer from Coral Springs, Fla. (pictured). But with portable technology and some planning ahead, you can stay in touch with clients and still have some fun.

Here are some tips he’s picked up along the way:

Email crucial information to yourself. If you have a power outage and your laptop battery dies, you still may be able to access to it through a public computer at a hotel or cyber café. Store important phone numbers and email addresses in your cell phone, and consider bringing hard copies of must-have information.

Check your cell-phone coverage. If service is limited in areas along your route, let clients know you may be hard to reach.

Notify your credit-card company you’ll be traveling. This will help you avoid raising red flags that might result in a frozen business account.

Prepare your clients and colleagues. Let them know you may be difficult to reach on occasion and be clear that you’re dividing your time between work and vacation.

Set expectations for your companions. Make sure everyone knows that you’ll be working part of the time and may need some privacy.

Carve out time for fun. If you don’t set aside time to enjoy yourself, you’re defeating the purpose of going away.

Readers, are you working during your vacation? How do you stay on top of business when you’re on holiday?

Comments (4 of 4)

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The only time I am truly indispensable is when I take my annual vacation. I pretty much follow those six tips, and frankly they do not work.

I prepare my clients and co-workers for my vacation weeks or months in advance. I also take my vacation the same time each year. I find my vacations far more hectic and busy than my time in the office. The only differences are that I miss the convenience and the support of the office and that people always start the conversation with, "Sorry to bother you on your vacation, but...."

And then there are the constant visits to Kinkos or Fed Ex deliveries and what not.

When I return each year, nothing has been done in my absence. Simple closings that had to occur and were staffed are still on my desk. Documents that needed simple revisions accumulate dust. My co-workers always welcome me back with joy, trying to look haggard over all of my work that they have postponed during my absence.

In a few days, everything returns to normal, and I start reading blogs again to fill my days.

I am truly not important-- just a corporate lawyer-- but for two weeks a year, I am more important than the president. I hate it.

6:15 pm July 14, 2008

rob wrote :

but first decide what you REALLY need to keep up with. get out of your normal office habits and dont' be constantly plugged in. many business owners eventually pay a bigger price by non-stop working. take a break, it won't kill you. your family will appreciate it.